With the Food and Drug Administration's ban on dietary supplements containing ephedra, many consumers are searching for a replacement that will enhance weight loss.
Bitter orange is an ingredient predicted to steal ephedra's spotlight in weight-loss supplements, claiming to boost metabolism while suppressing hunger.
It contains a chemical similar to ephedrine - the active ingredient in ephedra. The chemical, synephrine, has not been vigorously tested, though the product manufactures claim it is safer than ephedra.
At General Nutrition Center, 1002 E. State St., some of the highest-selling products contain bitter orange, said Brian Fox, a GNC employee. Those products include Ripped fuel, a metabolic enhancer, and Xenadrine, a weight-loss supplement. Both of these products previously used ephedrine.
The first question people ask about a product is if it has ephedra in it
said Fox, a senior exercise physiology major at Ohio University. The second question they ask is if it's safer than ephedra then they'll buy it.
Experts disagree about whether bitter orange is really a better option.
Some studies have shown that bitter orange could lead to heart disease because it constricts the blood vessels and puts excess pressure on the heart, said Bella Mehta, associate professor of clinical pharmacy at Ohio State University.
Studies linking bitter orange to increased weight loss also are inconclusive, said Mehta, who has researched the herb's effects. Subjects in the studies also exercised and dieted, so those factors could be responsible for the weight loss.
Mehta said some of her other research showed that bitter orange could make people more sensitive to sunlight. The studies, found in the National Medicines Comprehensive Database, also showed a risk of high blood pressure.
Manufacturers claim bitter orange is a safe alternative to ephedra because the active ingredient synephrine is less potent than ephedrine, Fox said. The manufacturers of Xenadrine and Ripped Fuel could not be reached for comment.
Bitter orange doesn't have the same jittery effect as ephedra does Fox said. A lot of people still don't know about it
but it is becoming more popular.
Before dietary supplements can be sold the manufacturer must prove they are safe, but the FDA does not do its own studies. Dietary supplements cannot claim to cure, prevent, mitigate or treat any disease.
We know less about herbal supplements than prescription drugs
so we're in the dark about whether they're safe or not
said Sharron Coplin, a registered dietician at OSU. We don't know anything about bitter orange because nothing has been done long term to know whether it's effective and safe.
But even prescriptions that are heavily monitored by the FDA can pose health risks in certain people - no prescription can guarantee safety, so it is unfair to single out herbal supplements, said Dan Hudson, pharmacist at Hudson Health Center.
Problems with dietary supplements can arise when people exceed the recommended dosages to produce a greater effect, he said.
In America
we have this feeling that if one pill works for us
two or three will be even better
he said. People double and triple dosages and think it won't hurt them.
When used correctly though, dietary supplements can be very beneficial, said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director for the American Botanical
Council, a nonprofit organization promoting responsible use of herbal medicine.
He said the FDA's ban of ephedra is giving all dietary supplements a bad rap.
Overall, the sale of all herbs has declined 13.9 percent since January 2003 according to an Information Resources Inc. study, which conducts research analyses on markets and businesses, he said.
There are very few herbal supplements in the United States that are dangerous
Blumenthal said. Ephedra was widely sold
but it's an outlier. It is not representative of most popular herbs in the marketplace
